CLAREMONT, Calif. – Opening the 2012 season in the land of earthquakes, the Pacific softball team got off to a bit of a shaky start.
The Boxers committed six errors in a 13-9 loss to La Verne on Friday in the first of two games played at Pomona-Pitzer Field in Claremont, Calif. The Boxers lost despite outhitting the Leopards 11-10. It was La Verne's third straight victory to start the season, while Pacific was making its 2012 debut.
The Boxers took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the second inning, when back-to-back errors opened a nine-run onslaught that put the Leopards on top for good. Pacific scored in every inning until going down 1-2-3 in the seventh, but could not put together the big inning necessary to make a serious comeback attempt.
Left fielder
Nikki King (Fr., Medical Lake, Wash.) hit three doubles in three at bats, scoring two runs and knocking in two more in her Boxer debut.
Jordan Mittelsdorf (Sr., Boardman, Ore.) went 2 for 3 with a pair of runs batted in and
Ashley Billingsley (Sr., Gresham, Ore.) also had two hits with a run and RBI.
Jenny Yano (Fr., Ontario, Ore.) had a rough debut in the pitching circle, but got little help from the defense.
Lauren Tuey (Sr., Redlands, Calif.) doubled with two outs and nobody on base in the top of the first, sparking a two run rally that featured RBI singles by Mittelsdorf and Billingsley. But two Boxer errors in the bottom of the frame put La Verne on the board.
The Boxers plated an unearned run in the top of second inning to take a 3-1 lead, before an errant Yano throw opened the floodgates in the bottom of the frame. A mishandled sacrifice bunt at third put runners at second and third base before Daryn Schively drove in both with a double down the left field line to tie the game 3-3. After another bunt, leadoff hitter Dee Dee Burns blasted a 2-run homer down the left line to put the Leopards up 5-3.
The bases weren't empty for long. Another error, followed by a throw too late to second base to get the lead runner rekindled the rally, as Jackie Duran drove in two runs with a single and Candice Nunez followed with a two-RBI double. Schively knocked in her third run of the inning with her second double, ending Yano's day in the circle. Yano gave up six hits in 1 2/3 innings, but only five of the ten runs allowed by the freshman hurler were earned. Yano also doubled and scored a run in three at bats.
Chelsey Chamberlain allowed three runs, two earned on three hits over a 2 1/3 innings stint until
Shannon Miller closed out with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts and no walks.
Schively led the Leopards offense with three doubles in four at bats, scoring two runs to go with her three RBI.
Carly Asher got the win for La Verne with four innings of relief, allowing six hits and five runs, three earned.
The Boxers faced Pomona-Pitzer in the second game of the day at 3:00 p.m.
